A wave problem in a half-space with a unilateral constraint at the boundary (Q2266169)

Authors consider the wave equation \(u_{tt}-\Delta u=0\) in an N- dimensional half-space \(\Omega =\{x\in {\mathbb{R}}^ N:\quad x_ N>0\}.\) Initial conditions are imposed on u and \(u_ t\) whilst on the boundary of the region of interest the solution and its normal derivative are assumed to satisfy unilateral constraints. The relationship of this class of problems to such physical problems as the one dimensional vibration of a slab of linearly elastic material or the two-dimensional vibrations of a membrane with a slider in its boundary are given. However it is emphasized that the main motivation for the work was the general dynamical Signorini problem. The problem under consideration is reduced to an equivalent problem on the boundary, which involves a certain operator A. The operator A is neither local nor pseudo-differential. However, it is shown that when A is considered as an unbounded operator from \(L_ 2((0,T)\times {\mathbb{R}}^{N-1})\) into itself then its restriction to a bounded time interval is positive. The positivity of A, which is essentially a normal derivative operator, depends on the geometry of \(\Omega\). The reduced problem is shown to have a unique solution which conserves energy.